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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$85,270 GS-11 Step 1 in Houston (2025)
$110,846 GS-11 Step 10 in Houston (2025)
+$22,107 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-11 pay table for Houston

Each step below already includes the 35.00% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-11 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $85,270 $3,279.62 $40.86 +$22,107
Step 2 $88,112 $3,388.92 $42.22 +$22,844
Step 3 $90,954 $3,498.23 $43.58 +$23,581
Step 4 $93,795 $3,607.50 $44.94 +$24,317
Step 5 $96,637 $3,716.81 $46.30 +$25,054
Step 6 $99,479 $3,826.12 $47.67 +$25,791
Step 7 $102,321 $3,935.42 $49.03 +$26,528
Step 8 $105,162 $4,044.69 $50.39 +$27,264
Step 9 $108,004 $4,154.00 $51.75 +$28,001
Step 10 $110,846 $4,263.31 $53.11 +$28,738
← GS-10 Calculate my take-home GS-12 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Houston pays

  • Base GS-11 Step 1 $63,163
  • Houston GS-11 Step 1 $85,270
  • Locality add-on +$22,107
  • Adjustment percent 35.00%
  • Base GS-11 Step 10 $82,108
  • Houston GS-11 Step 10 $110,846

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-11 in Houston: what to expect

Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.

For 2025, the Houston pay area adds a 35.00% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-11 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.

Promotion path. Typical career ladder peak for entry-level hires; competitive promotion to GS-12 requires vacancy and supervisory selection.

The rough military equivalent for GS-11 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-11 in Houston

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $3,280 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,263. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2025 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-11 Houston page.

Other grades in Houston

GS-11 in Houston questions

  • How much does a GS-11 make in Houston?
    In 2025, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $85,270 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $110,846. This is 35.00% higher than the base GS-11 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 in Houston?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Houston in 2025, it is 35.00%. On a GS-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $22,107 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in Houston?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $3,280 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.